Q6 - How can I adapt the working environment - who will advise me and who will pay?

Adaptations and aids

The needs of individuals will obviously vary a lot depending on their individual circumstances and the kind of employment that they have. Financial support for all equipment and adaptations needed and aids for work can be obtained via the scheme "ACCESS TO WORK" - which can pay 100% of any costs for new recruits and up to 80% for those who have been in work for 6 weeks or more. (LINKS to ATW page)

The Office Environment

Access software and hardware is available which means that even a person with no remaining sight can use mainstream programs such as Microsoft word, Access, Excel, etc. Such access happens via speech or Braille (the computer speaks or the blind person reads from a Braille display placed in front of the key board). Even bespoke in house database programs can be adapted for use in this way.

In the office the person with partial sight (useful remaining vision) will probably benefit from a large screen monitor which should be considered before a screen magnifier, and a screen magnification system such as Lunar or zoom text. Some people will use a combination of magnification and speech access for PC use. If multiple disability is an issue (dyslexia or RSI) then Voice recognition software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking (Dragon) or TalkingPoint may be used. This software can be made to work in tandem with speech access and magnification software. Packages like Dragon allow the user to dictate text to the computer rather than type it. Some suppliers are listed under links on this site. Many people also find reading is possible using an electronic magnifier with a camera and screen magnifier system, sometimes called CCTV.

If an employee has no sight, a scanner with Optical Character Recognition software, will assist in reading printed documents. A scanner will not read hand-written documents, but Access to Work will pay for support if a blind person has to read hand-written text. Some scanners are stand-alone units while others are linked to computers. The screen reader using the scanner reads the text. The resultant work can then be saved into packages such as MS Word. The technology has improved a lot over the last few years and works well.

If the employee is a Braille user it might be appropriate to use an electronic Braille display. This sits in front of the keyboard. Pins pop up through holes in a display allowing a user to read text from the screen as Braille. Most blind, partially sighted and disabled people use a normal QWERTY style keyboard, but some may input using a Braille keyboard and some will use an embosser (this is a printer that links to a computer with specialist software loaded the embosser will print PC based documents in Braille). Braille and QWERTY note-takers are also very useful where written notes are required (these are similar to laptops and PDAs). They will often have Braille displays or Speech access built-in. Many blind and partially sighted people use laptops or other portable devices as note-takers. Small Dictaphones are also used for note-taking in meetings. There is even a good PDA with Speech access and special magnification and speech software, loaded on to specific mobile phones can enable blind and partially sighted people to access and write text messages etc.

Electronic filing systems are those most easily accessible and care should be taken to ensure that filing systems are fully accessible. The equipment used in offices is also the same as that used in many other similar work environments, for example warehouses and in management.

The Industrial or manufacturing environment

The most important issue is careful assessment of what is required to enable the blind, partially sighted or disabled person to work effectively and safely. Building jigs might help some people or fixtures which indicate where something is positioned, other processes might be better automated according to what the person can do. Before discounting someone who may have a disability such as epilepsy, please consult the individual and take advice from specialist organisations, you may find yourself making assumptions without knowing the facts or having up-to-date knowledge if you do not do this.

Specialist Advice and Support

Specialist advice is available free via specialist organisations. Free preliminary environmental assessments are available via Visage.